The consuming fire

There are several verses in the Bible that refer to God as being “a consuming fire.” The picture conveyed by this phrase is that of a wildfire, such as a forest fire, that devours everything in its path. By its very nature, fire is consuming. Proverbs 30:15-16 tells us that there are “three things that will not be satisfied, four that will not say, ‘Enough’” – one of which is fire. Fire will continue to burn up everything in its path until it is either put out or it runs out of material to burn.

As Christians however, it is not always easy or pleasant to think of God as a consuming fire that devours everything in its path. Something within us just doesn’t like that image, of God, since it suggests an uncontrollable anger accompanied by wide scale destruction. It doesn’t help that this suggestion seems to be confirmed in Isaiah 30:30 which describes God’s arm “coming down with raging anger and consuming fire” and again in Isaiah 33:12, where God says, “my breath will consume you like a fire.”

The reality is that there is a real aspect of the nature and person of God that is terrifying and destructive like an unstoppable wildfire. But the Bible also compares God to a refiner’s fire that, even though it is consuming, is very controlled. Using fire to refine metals is an ancient practice that is still used today. The refining process consisted of placing metals into brick or stone furnace, and heating them with fire until they reached their melting point, at which time all the impurities in the metal would float to the surface in the form of “dross” which was then removed.

In Malachi 3:2-4 Jesus is referred to as a “refiner’s fire” who will “Purify” his people, and “refine them like gold and silver.” The obvious goal of this refining by the “fire” of God is to purify his people. This process is referred to in Proverbs 25:4, which says, “Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith.” In the same way the refining fire of God purifies his people, with the result that there comes out “a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy. 2:21)

There are a number of ways God acts as a consuming ‘refiner’s’ fire in our lives, but the primary way he does it is though his the purifying agents of His Word and His Spirit. In Jeremiah 5:14 God said he would make his words a “fire” in Jeremiah’s mouth, through which he would refine his people. And in Isaiah 4:4 he said he would purify his people through His “Spirit of burning.”

As we expose ourselves to the truth of His Word, and the presence of His spirit in our lives, He begins His work of “burning” away all the impurities in our lives. And, if we will not willingly “judge ourselves” by placing ourselves in the “fire” of His word, then in his mercy God will use his word to judge and discipline us, in order “that we may share in his holiness.” (1 Corinthians 11: 31; Hebrews 12:7-11)

There is no way around the fact that our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29) The only decision before us is whether we will “enter into” the fire, like Moses on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 24:17) In Isaiah 33:14 the prophet asks, “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire and who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” He then answers this question that it is only “He who walks righteously.” If we intend to “Dwell with the consuming fire,” then we will have to let his refining Word and Spirit do their work in our lives, regardless of how hot and painful it may get from time to time!

If this is your desire, take a step forward, into the consuming fire.